“The Big Hill Road area has become an area of concern for drug activity, in no small part due to Price and her associates,” Sheriff Alan Norman said.

The Sheriff’s Office's ongoing operation in the area came to a head Nov. 16, when Deputy Tim Sims stopped a car for a moving violation on Big Hill Road, near Casar.

During a search of the vehicle, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 indicated there were drugs in the vehicle.

A search yielded 55 grams of methamphetamine worth roughly $5,600, a concealed .357-caliber handgun and assorted drug paraphernalia, according to reports from the Sheriff’s Office.

Oxentine was arrested during the traffic stop and received $100,000 bond for allegedly trafficking 40 grams of methamphetamine, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Price, also arrested during the stop, received a $75,000 bond on charges of possession of 15 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

But this isn't the first time the Sheriff's Office has arrested Price.

“Anyone who reads these articles on drug arrests might notice a pattern," Norman said. "We are very good at putting these drug dealers in jail. Either they are very slow to recognize, or too greedy to care, that we don’t stop investigating them just because we have put them in jail one time. We would prefer they stop dealing drugs on their own, but we are more than happy to arrest them again."

The Sheriff’s narcotics investigators originally began an investigation into the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in August, making several controlled buys from Big Hill Road at a residence shared by Price and Thurman, according to reports.

On Oct. 5, Sheriff's deputies arrested Price at her home and charged her with conspiring to sell methamphetamine and maintaining a dwelling for selling narcotics. She was placed under a $10,000 bond.

Thurman was also arrested for possession with intent to sell / deliver methamphetamine, sell / deliver methamphetamine and maintaining a dwelling for selling narcotics. He was placed under a $30,000 secured bond.

Thurman remained in Cleveland County Detention Center, Price made bond.

"Drug dealing continues to destroy many families across our nation. My mission is to end this brokering of human misery in our county," Norman said.

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